{UAH} Ssemujju pronounces Brig. Geoffrey Taban Dead! Embarrasing, not so?

Forum,

According to Mr Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda's column in The Observer today (below), Brigadier Geoffrey Taban Kyabihende is dead, presumably from a disease that used to stigmatise. Isn't Brigadier Geoffrey Taban (the man who was co-ADC to Bill Clinton when he visited Uganda) still Uganda's Defence Attache in Kinshasa? May be he died recently while I was traveling and did not get to know about it.

Perhaps ambassador James Kinobe, Uganda's envoy to DRC who is a member of this forum can up date us. If Gen. Taban is not dead then I am sorry I did not know but if he is alive, then it will be a huge embarrassment for whoever allowed that story to be published.

Billie

Who will build a national army for us?

• January 25, 2017
• Written by Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda

One of the things that worried Mr Museveni in the early years of his administration was HIV/Aids.

Not that it was depleting the country of its population, but simply because it threatened to kill commanders he wanted to take charge of the military, the main source of his power for the last 31 years.

Before he left for one of those numerous foreign trips at that time, he poured out his frustration to a few selected commanders at Entebbe. These included Brig Steven Kashaka, Col Geoffrey Kyabihende (also commonly known as Taban (RIP)) and Maj Gen James Kazini.

"You people, the revolution is at a high risk because it doesn't have people who will protect it," Museveni began, according to one of the commanders who was present.

"Many of you are in Kampala womanizing and we are going to lose you to Aids," he lamented. "Who then will protect the revolution when all of you are dead?"

He then proposed that four things must be done to save the revolution. First, he told the Kashakas and Kyabihendes to go back to the villages and recruit children who have completed senior six into the army. These new recruits would form and dominate command of the military in future when Aids has either killed or weakened the old guards.

Shortly after, he appointed Kashaka as Chief of Personnel and Administration (CPA). I think Kyabihende had just been commanding the third battalion. Many young people, I think, don't know Kyabihende.

He was one of the greatest fighters of the NRA and must have joined the Luweero war that brought Museveni to power during its infancy in 1981. Kyabihende, Maj Herbert Kikomeko and one Mandevu Njawukana, all great fighters, were demoted from JOII to sergeant for leading a food mutiny at Mugogo during the war.

Museveni said while he appreciated their courage at war, he didn't like their conduct. That is when he used the word "Tumbo Mbere Kazi Nyuma," which vaguely means food first, work later. Kyabihende was from Kazo, Kiruhura. Unfortunately, he is dead!

It appears Museveni had secretly screened all his officers to establish who was HIV-positive and who was not. The recruitment of soldiers from "their villages" who have come of age thus started in earnest. That is the point I made last week in my column when speaking to those analyzing promotions and deployment in the UPDF.

Gen David Muhoozi didn't become a chief of defence forces (CDF) by accident. One journalist interviewed me about the timing and I replied that I don't know, which is the truth!

And you don't need a master's degree in military science to see this. The implementers of this plan have made it very easy for you. All of a sudden, Gen Elly Tumwine has taken over roles of minister for defence and his deputy, for he is the one presiding over the handing over of offices and is the one giving speeches.

They must be excited because the recruits they identified to take charge of the command have matured. Of course, Tumwine presided over when Gen Edward Katumba Wamala was handing over to Gen David Muhoozi, but that was not as dramatic as when Maj Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba was handing over to Col Don Nabasa.

The function at which Special Forces Command (SFC) boss Kainerugaba handed over to Nabasa was presided over by Tumwine, who obviously gave a speech. The new CDF, Gen David Muhoozi, was in attendance and he also gave a speech. Maj Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba also gave a speech.

I guess it is a coincidence that you can have a military function and all the three main guests are from one area. Like I said last week, the so-called Muhoozi project is not a family project, but a regional one. The directors of this project are well-known and their names are written in the UPDF Act.

They will remain directors for life unless we work harder and change the course of history. Interestingly, Tumwine told them that they were with God. People should stop insulting God! That you build a one-region army and God will bless it. I know this may attract a sectarianism charge but we can't keep quiet anymore.

And these things started almost immediately when Museveni captured power. I guess it is also a coincidence that Andrew Lutaaya and Matayo Kyaligonza are not in the picture. That explains the title of this dispatch: who will help this country build a national army?

Anyway, in future I will tell you the other three things that Museveni said they should do to protect "the revolution."

Since the military is in the news, it is most urgent. Let those discussing the military in the newspapers and electronic media help themselves to this history. It is a film and you should wait for the next episode.

semugs@yahoo.com

The author is Kira Municipality MP.